In Italy the first robot that thinks aloud

2021-04-22T02:50:36.731Z

Made in Italy, the first robot that thinks aloud and that in this way learns new things, like children do, arousing empathy in human beings. It was born from the meeting of the skills of Arianna Pipitone and Antonio Chella, both of the University of Palermo, experts respectively in computational models of language and in computer science and robotics. Their research, published in iScience magazine, is an important step towards more effective human-machine communication. "We would like to show robots as machines that can think," Chella told Ansa. "The idea that a robot can have some sort of thinking is amazing and this can help the interaction, creating the right level of trust." It is an approach, Pipitone observes, "which makes the robot different from typical machines".The appearance of the robot used in the experiment is that of Pepper, a small humanoid with large eyes used in dozens of laboratories around the world. The software that allows him to think aloud is unique and usable on other machines. The novelty is that, when preparing to execute a command, the robot gives voice to the thoughts that accompany its actions and does so by slightly lowering the tone of the voice. For example, when asked to place the napkin on the table in a position that seems contrary to the label, the robot says in a low voice 'The position must be on the plate and not on the table. I think it's a bit confusing. I want to be sure. I'll ask him again 'and, once confirmed, think aloud:' Er,this situation bothers me, I never break the rules. I'm afraid to let him down, so I'll do what he wants. '

(Photo Ansa / Arianna Pipitone and Antonio Chella / University of Palermo)

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April 21, 2021 The first robot that thinks aloud and that in this way learns new things, like children do, has been made in Italy, arousing empathy in human beings. It was born from the meeting of the skills of Arianna Pipitone and Antonio Chella, both of the University of Palermo, experts respectively in computational models of language and in computer science and robotics. Their research, published in iScience magazine, is an important step towards more effective human-machine communication.

"We would like to show robots as machines that can think," Chella told Ansa. "The idea that a robot can have some sort of thinking is amazing and this can help the interaction, creating the right level of trust."

It is an approach, Pipitone observes, "which makes the robot different from typical machines".

The appearance of the robot used in the experiment is that of Pepper, a small humanoid with large eyes used in dozens of laboratories around the world. The software that allows him to think aloud is unique and usable on other machines. The novelty is that, when preparing to execute a command, the robot gives voice to the thoughts that accompany its actions and does so by slightly lowering the tone of the voice. For example, when asked to place the napkin on the table in a position that seems contrary to the label, the robot says in a low voice 'The position must be on the plate and not on the table. I think it's a bit confusing. I want to be sure. I'll ask him again 'and, once confirmed, he thinks aloud:' Er, this situation bothers me,I never break the rules. I'm afraid to let him down, so I'll do what he wants. '

In Italy the first robot that thinks aloud

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